Machine-tool



MarhlO, 1970 v. l.. A. BIANCHI 3,499,335

MACHINE-TOOL Filed April 2, 1968 ,---w I I United States Patent O MACHINE-TOOL Vittorio Louis Achille Bianchi, 37 Ave. Paul Doumer, Paris, 16 France Filed Apr. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 718,180 Claims priority, applicationv France, Apr. 6, 1967,

Int. Cl. F16h .Z9/04 U.S. Cl. 74-29 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The machine-tool comprises a stationary frame carrying a vertically movable frame and a carriage slidably mounted on said movable frame. The carriage is driven in translation by a motor supported on the carriage itself and connected to pinions meshing with racks solid with the movable frame.

The present invention essentially concerns improvements in or relating to a machine-tool such as a press, a folding-machine or the like, of the type including a carriage or the like glidably mounted on a frame, the guiding of said carriage being performed by means of a tenons and slides system and -a racks and pinions system.

In the presently known machines of this type, the carriage is moved by a jack, one element of which, for example the stem, is solid with said frame, while its other element, for instance the cylinder, is solid with the carriage. The tenons and slides system is -mainly intended to guide the carriage, this guiding being completed by said racks and pinions system maintaining the carriage perpendicular to said slides.

The machines of the aforesaid type, when provided with a jack driving the carriage, entail various drawbacks. It is diflicult to adjust precisely the travel of the carriage, the presence of the jack hinders a ready mounting and dismounting of the carriage and consequently impedes a proper maintenance of the machine, and finally the use of such a jack involves high costs.

The machine according to the invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks and is remarkable especially in that a driving device is mounted on the machine part bearing said pinions, said device being connected with at least one of said pinions co-operating with said racks to impart a translatory motion to the carriage on the frame.

The invention allows hence to suppress the jack and consequently to palliate the drawbacks entailed by such a jack.

According to another feature of the invention, the aforesaid driving device as well as said pinions are mounted on the carriage, while the racks are solid with the frame.

In another method of embodiment, the aforementioned driving device as well as the pinions are mounted on said frame, while the racks are solid with said carriage.

Still in accordance with the invention, the driving device is constituted by a motor, for instance an electrical motor, connected to the shaft or shafts bearing said pinions, preferably -by means of a transmission-gear According to another feature of the invention, the aforementioned driving device is constituted by a hydraulic motor, directly connected to the shaft or shafts bearing said pinions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description, made in reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of example and whe-rein:

FIGURE l is a partially sectional side view showing a press conformable to the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a partial view `of a cross-section made following the line II-II of the FIGURE 1.

Accordingto the represented method of embodiment, a press of the invention is constituted by a stationary frame 1, while a vertically movable frame 2 is driven in translation upwards and downwards by a suitable means, for instance by a (not represented) jack. The press comprises besides a tool-carriage 3.

The frame 2 is formed of two identical lateral linkplates 2a and 2b, provided at their upper portion with dovetailed slides 4a and 4b wherein are engaged tenons 5a and 5b, also dovetailed and solid with the carriage 3. At the upper portion of the link-plates 2a and 2b have been secured racks 6a and 6b on which mesh the pinions 7a and 7b mounted on shafts 8a and 8b, the latter being themselves supported by the carriage 3.

The pinions 7a and 7b are driven in rotation by means of a driving device constituted by a motor 9 mounted on a cross-rail 10 of carriage 3, and by means of a transmission-gear 11 connected with shafts 8a and 8b.

The motor 9 may be of any type, for instance an electrical or a hydraulic motor. Likewise, the transmissiongear 11 may be constituted by a gear reducer or again by a hydraulic speed-controller.

In the case where the motor 9 is of a hydraulic type, it may be directly connected to the shafts bearing the pinions 7a and 7b. f

The speed of the d-riving device may be varied by any known mechanical, electrical or hydraulic means. Still in the case of a hydraulic motor, the supply flow may for instance be varied by means of a valve or the like system, so as to control the pressure exerted lon the motor and consequently to change at will the rotational torque and speed.

In the case of an electrical motor, it is possible to vary the intensity of the supply current by means of a set of resistances or by means of an electronic regulation.

Of course, it is also possible to act on the transmission ratio of the reducer or of the controller.

Many modifications or variants could be introducedv into the described method of embodiment without leaving by that the scope of the invention.

Thus, for instance, instead of rendering the racks 6a and 6b solid, as represented, with the frame 2 said racks could be solid with the carriage 3, in which case the pinions 7a and 7b, as well as the motor 9 and possibly the transmission-gear 11 would be solid with said frame. It is also possible to provide a single pinion meshing with a single rack, preferably arranged in the axis of the machine.

The pinions and the racks may have straight, helical, herringbone or the like teeth, or again any other suitable toothing.

Be it hence understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the described and represented method of embodiment, which has been given only by way of example. Especially, said invention includes all means constituting technical equivalents to the described means as well as their combinations, if the latter are carried out within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A press comprising in combination a stationary frame, a vertically movable frame carried on said stationary frame and provided with guideway means and rack means, a horizontally slidable carriage mounted on said vertically movable frame and provided with guide members and pinion means engaging said guideway means and said rack means respectively and motor means supported on said carriage and connected to said pinion means whereby said carriage is driven in translation on said vertically movable frame.

3 4 2. A press according to claim 1 wherein said motor 1,421,571 7/ 1922 Rodger 74-29 means consists of an electric motor connected to said 3,220,276 11/ 1965 Bruns 74-422 pinion means through a gear reducer. 0

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Exammer References Cited 5 W. S. RATLIFF, IR., Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS US. C1. XR. 1,384,382 7/1921 Cardullo 74-422 74-422 

